Combustion

Combustion is a rapid exothermic reaction, usually between a fuel and an oxidizer, that releases heat and often produces light.

Combustion reaction: A chemical reaction in which a fuel reacts with an oxidizer, releasing energy. This is the chemical event at the core of combustion.
Fuel: A substance that releases usable energy through a chemical or nuclear reaction. Combustion consumes fuel as its energy-bearing reactant.
Internal combustion engine: An engine that converts energy from fuel combustion inside its working chamber into mechanical work. It harnesses combustion in repeated cycles to produce motion.
Smoldering: A slow, flameless form of combustion occurring on the surface of a solid fuel. It is combustion without the visible flame characteristic of flaming fires.
Fire: A sustained combustion process that produces heat and often flame, capable of spreading through combustible material. Uncontrolled combustion can grow into a spreading fire.
Activation energy: The minimum energy reactants need to reach a reactive transition state. Combustion needs an initial energy input to overcome this barrier.
Oxidizer: A substance that accepts electrons or supplies an oxidizing species in a reaction. An oxidizer enables the fuel's exothermic reaction; it need not be atmospheric oxygen.
Gas turbine: A rotary engine that extracts work from hot, pressurized gas produced by continuous combustion. Continuous burning drives turbines in aircraft and power plants.
Explosion: A rapid expansion of matter that releases energy and produces a pressure wave. Combustion can cause an explosion, but many combustion reactions do not.
Carbon dioxide: A colorless gas composed of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. Complete combustion of carbon-containing fuels commonly releases it.

Linked from 145 pages